Dempsey, who has played Dr. Derek Shepherd since the series began in 2005, was last November written out of the show, explained by his character getting a job in DC. Dempsey has since only returned for fleeting appearances, even though he signed a new two-year deal in January 2014.

A show source said, “Patrick has been acting like a diva and has clashed with Shonda. She suspended him for a while, and the word on set is that he isn’t coming back full time.”

Washington was fired in 2007 after reportedly fighting with Dempsey, and using a gay slur in referring to T.R. Knight. Heigl pulled her name from Emmys consideration in 2008, criticizing the show’s writing, and left in 2010, when Rhimes told The Hollywood Reporter she doesn’t “put up with bulls - - t or nasty people.”

After Dempsey’s character was sent to DC, Rhimes told Entertainment Weekly in January, “It’s highly possible that we might not see Derek for a while . . . There will be a time when you see him again, yes, but it’s probable that you won’t see Derek for a while.”

Katherine Heigl played Izzie Stevens from 2005 to 2010.ABC/KAREN NEAL

The show is nearing the end of Season 11. But Dempsey, who is contracted through the end of Season 12 and 2015, has talked about leaving. The actor — who is in the midst of a divorce with his wife, Jillian Fink — said in November the medical drama “has been a blessing for me and has allowed me to do all this. But it’s transitional for me right now. I’m looking forward to the next thing, creatively.” He said his exit from “Grey’s” would happen “very soon,” but didn’t say when.

Our source added that his comments “didn’t help” Dempsey’s frosty relationship with Rhimes. A rep for Dempsey said, “I can confirm that this story is not true,” and a rep for the show didn’t return calls and emails.